Alexis wakes up with Ned�s arms wrapped tightly around her. She smiles.
Ned: (in a low voice) �I was wondering when you would wake up.�
Alexis: �How long were you watching me?�
Ned: �Not long.� He kisses her forehead. �But I must say that you are a very, very sexy sight to wake up to, Mrs. Ashton.�
Alexis: (rolling over and kissing him) �You�re not so bad looking yourself.�
Ned rolls over onto his back and Alexis lays her head on his chest. He strokes her hair and they listen to the sound of the ocean outside the window.
Ned: �It�s so beautiful here. No work, no families, no children...�
Alexis: �Speaking of children, I wonder how our three princesses are doing.�
Port Charles. Seven o�clock in the morning.
Julia and Jax are awakened to the sound of Brooke and Avery screaming down the hall.
Brooke: �It�s mine!�
Avery: �No it isn�t!�
Brooke: �Avery, Mommy gave it to me! It�s my headband!�
Avery: �NO! IT�S MINE! You like braids!�
Brooke: �So? It�s mine, mine, MINE!!!�
Julia gets out of bed and races down the hall to Avery�s bedroom.
Julia: �What�s going on here? Brooke? Avery?�
Brooke: �She took my headband! It�s mine!�
Avery: (holding the headband in a death grip) �It is not! It�s mine!�
Just then, Hannah starts screaming.
Julia: �Jax?�
Jax: �I�m on it.� He comes out of their room and heads into the nursery. He picks Hannah up out of her crib. �What�s wrong, Hannah?� he looks out in the hall. �Is it your big sisters� fighting that woke you up? Yeah, it woke me and Aunt Julia up too.� He bounces her a little. �It will probably die out in a few minutes.�
In Avery�s room.
Julia: �Brooke, who did your mommy give that headband to?�
Brooke: �Me! She gave it to me last week!�
Julia: �Avery, do you have a headband like this?�
Avery: (pouting) �No.�
Julia: �Okay, let�s make a deal. Brooke can wear the headband today, and Avery, I�ll put your hair up with some cool barrettes, and tomorrow, Avery, you can wear the headband.� She looks at the girls. �Is that okay?�
Avery: �Could you curl my hair?�
Julia: (looking at the hall clock) �Sure, if you get dressed really fast.�
Avery: (handing the headband to Brooke) �Here, Brooke.�
Brooke: �Thank you.� She walks off to her bedroom.
Julia: (leaving Avery�s room and coming into the nursery) �Okay, the War of the Ashton sisters is now settled.�
Jax: �Good job.� He bends down and tickles Hannah�s stomach. She squeals. �Aunt Julia is going to be such a good mommy, isn�t she, Hannah?�
Julia: (smiling) �You�re going to be a pretty good daddy, Jax.�
Jax looks up from dressing Hannah in a little pair of blue baby Gap overalls with pink snaps and buckles and a pink shirt. He gives Julia a loving smile.
Jax: �So, Jul, what do you think we�re going to have? A son or a daughter?�
Julia: �I would love it if we had a little girl... or a little boy to carry on the Jacks name.� She smiles. �I wonder what the baby will look like.�
Jax: (smiling at her) �I�m beginning to see it.�
Julia: �See what?�
Jax: �That pregnant woman�s glow. The one where you�re just beginning to realize that you actually are pregnant.�
Julia: (smiling at him) �Really?�
Jax: �Definitely.� He picks Hannah up and heads for the stairs.
Julia: �Do you think that we�re going to be good parents?�
Jax: �No. I don�t think we�re going to be good parents.� Julia looks surprised. Jax smiles. �I think we�re going to be great parents.�
They sit down at the kitchen table and Jax begins feeding Hannah a bottle.
Julia: (looking longingly at the coffee pot) �I would pay for a cup of cup of coffee.� She smiles sweetly. �Please, Jax?�
Jax: (firmly) �No. You need to eat right for our baby, so you�re going to drink nothing but fresh juice, milk and eat healthy foods.�
Julia: �Aw, this isn�t fair! Why don�t you go on this little kick with me?�
Jax: �I don�t think so.� he takes a look at Julia�s miserable face. �Well, I guess that I could go without coffee while you�re around.�
Julia: �Thanks. I appreciate it.� She smiles. �Otherwise, I�ll have to beat you up.�
Jax: �So, Julia Michelle, what do you say that we pick a wedding date today?� he laughs. �I think that we should get married before our child is old enough to be in the wedding.�
Julia: �Point well taken.� She thinks about it. �What about February thirteenth?�
Jax: �The day before Valentines� Day? Ooh, romantic.� He kicks her under the table. �Should I check my day planner?� he laughs. �Just kidding.�
Julia: �So, February thirteenth, 2000, for our wedding?�
Jax: �I�ll be there.� He leans over and kisses her. �I love you, Julia.�
Julia: �I love you too.�
That afternoon.
Scott, Kimberly and Karen sit at a table at the Outback.
Scott: (brightly) �So, Karen, how is your first day back at GH going?�
Karen: �Just fine. It�s great to see Chris, Ellen, Matt and the gang.� She winces. �Even Eve. I never thought I would be glad to see her again.�
Kimberly: �Do you mean Dr. Eve Lambert?�
Karen: �Yes. Do you know her?�
Kimberly: �She treated my friend Mackenzie when she was in a coma. Joe did too.�
Karen: �Joe is a great doctor.�
Kimberly: �I could see that.�
Scott: �Karen, you should really bring Joe over for dinner sometime this month.�
Karen: (glaring at Kimberly) �I�ll talk to Joe about it.�
Kimberly: (uncomfortable) �I�m going to go call the sitter and check on Olivia. She�s been coming down with a cold.� She leaves.
Scott: (angrily) �Karen, what is your problem?�
Karen: (innocently) �What ever do you mean, Father dearest?�
Scott: �Oh cut the crap.� He glares at her. �Karen, you�re my daughter and I love you, but you really have to get rid of the attitude towards Kimberly.�
Karen: �I don�t like her. She seems insincere.�
Scott: �What do you mean? She�s a great wife and a great mother.�
Karen: �Really? Does she get along good with Serena?�
Scott: �Serena has been calling her mommy since we got back from our honeymoon.�
Karen: �And speaking of honeymoon, you said you proposed to her on Christmas and got married on New Years Eve? So you were engaged for what, six days?�
Scott: �Your point being?�
Karen: �Dad, I just want to know, how well do you know her? How did you meet her?�
Scott: �I met her in Canada when I was living there. She came back to Port Charles last year and she�s best friends with Alexis Ashton. I know her very, very well.�
Just then, Kimberly comes walking back towards the table. Scott gives Karen a look.
Kimberly: (sitting down) �Olivia is sleeping peacefully.�
Scott: �Great. I�ve been hoping that she wouldn�t get sick.�
Kimberly: �I second that. Remember when she had colic?�
Scott: �How could I forget? We were up for about a week without any sleep.�
Karen: (trying to be nice) �She seems like a sweet little baby. How old is she?�
Kimberly: �Six months. You should really come over more often now that you�re back. You can get to know me and your little sister, and I know that Serena missed you like crazy.� She smiles hesitently. �I�d really like to get to know you better, Karen.�
Karen: (giving Scott a meaningful look) �I�d like that. Maybe we could go shopping and do the girl bonding thing sometime.�
Kimberly: �I�d like that.�
Scott leans back in his chair, relieved, and smiles.
Wyndemere. That night.
Mackenzie and Nikolas are sitting in front of the fire in the living room, talking.
Mackenzie: �Christabel was so excited about Parents� night, and when Stefan and I went to her school, her class did a presentation where they each got up and introduced themselves.� She starts laughing.
Nikolas: �Oh no. What happened?�
Mackenzie: �Christabel went primly up to the microphone in this little blue dress, looking like an angel. And then she opens her mouth and says, �What�s up? My name is Christabel Cassadine, or Shortie, and I think that it�s cool to go to this awesome school.� She laughs harder. �Then she makes a peace sign and goes �peace to all of my fellow Spice Girls fans.� I thought Stefan was going to die.�
Nikolas: �I would have paid to see his face! What did he say?�
Mackenzie: �He kind of slunk down in his seat, but I think he felt a little bit better when Christabel�s best friend, Kate, got up and completely froze. Then she yelled, �Whatever!� Christabel thought it was really funny though.�
Nikolas: �I can�t believe how much my father has changed since she was born. Between you and Christabel, he is a totally different person.� He looks intently at Mackenzie. �What was Christabel talking about last night if you marry Father, I�ll be your step-son or something like that?�
Mackenzie: �Your little sister is trying to get me and Stefan married.� She smiles wistfully. �So far, it hasn�t worked.�
Nikolas: �Do you want to marry him?�
Mackenzie: �Truthfully?� she leans closer to him. �I want to marry him more than anything.�
Nikolas: �Than why don�t you tell him? I know that my father is madly in love with you. I can see it when he looks into your eyes. It�s a love that is deeper than the love he felt for Katherine, or for any other woman.�
Mackenzie: �Except maybe your mother.�
Nikolas: �Yes, my father was in love with my mother, but that was twenty one years ago. He�s moved on, and he loves you now.� He takes her hands. �Mackenzie, you have to tell him how you feel about him.�
Mackenzie: �But what if we�re wrong? What if he doesn�t love me like that?�
Nikolas: �He does. I promise you. You just have to do something about it.�
Stefan: (walking in) �Do something about what?�
Mackenzie: (quickly) �About Christabel�s obsession with the Spice Girls.� She looks at her watch. �Speaking of Christabel, I�m going to go tuck her in.� she practically runs from the room.
Stefan: (sitting down next to Nikolas) �So, my son, how have you been?�
Nikolas: (thinking fast) �Uh, we already talked about me last night. Why don�t we talk about you for a while?�
Stefan: (amused) �Me? What is there to say?�
Nikolas: �Well, how are you and Mackenzie doing?�
Stefan: (completely missing the point) �Mackenzie is fine. You should know that, you were just talking to her.�
Nikolas: (shaking his head) �Father. Dad. Whatever you want to be called. I meant how are you and Mackenzie doing as a couple?�
Stefan: (slightly off guard) �Just fine. I�m very glad that she moved in.�
Nikolas: �So, any intentions on making it a permanent situation?�
Stefan: �I never told her that there was a time limit on her stay here.�
Nikolas: �I�m talking about marriage! Have you ever considered marrying her?�
Stefan: (raising an eyebrow) �What do you mean?�
Nikolas: (groaning) �What is it with you today? You seem so dense!�
Stefan: �Nikolas, I�m not sure that I appreciate your tone of voice.�
Nikolas: (taking a different approach) �Okay, I�m sorry. What I mean is that it�s so obvious that you�re in love with her. Why haven�t you asked her to marry you?�
Stefan: �Nikolas, I honestly don�t know.�
They stare at each other for a long time before Stefan goes on.
Stefan: �I could say that it�s because she�s only seven years older than you. But that�s not the reason. I�m afraid that she�ll say no.�
Nikolas: (smiling slightly) �I have a feeling that she wants to marry you as much as you want to marry her. You should just ask her.�
Stefan: �I just don�t know.� He shakes his head sadly. �Don�t tell anyone but I would give anything to have a relationship like Ned and Alexis. They aren�t just a married couple. They�re best friends too.�
Nikolas: �How is you and Mackenzie�s friendship?�
Stefan: �Oh, I�d definitely consider her one of my best friends.�
Nikolas: �Than what are you waiting for?�
Stefan doesn�t say anything. He just looks sadly at his son.
That night. Cabo San Lucas.
Ned and Alexis are walking down the beach, holding hands.
Ned is wearing a white button down shirt and cr�me slacks. Alexis is wearing a long silk sundress. It is ice blue with white stitching.
Alexis: (looking at her watch) �Only six hours until your birthday.�
Ned: �You actually know what time I was born?� he smiles. �I�m very impressed.�
Alexis: �Four thirty-eight a.m.� she smiles.
Ned: (stopping and kissing her) �Have I ever told you that I love you?�
Alexis: (in a low voice) �Yes, but I never seem to tire of hearing it.�
Ned: �I love you, Lexi.�
Alexis: �I love you too. More and more everyday.�
Ned: (pointing upward) �Hey! There�s a boardwalk up there!�
Alexis: �Wow, we must have walked farther than I thought.�
Ned: �That wasn�t my point.� He begins dragging her towards it. �Let�s go be kids again.�
Alexis: �Again? I...�
Ned: �Let me guess. You�ve never been to a boardwalk, never eaten cotton candy, and never played skee-ball.�
Alexis: �What�s that?�
Ned just shakes his head.
Fifteen minutes later.
Ned is standing at the ring-toss game, making his ninth valiant attempt to win a stuffed animal for Alexis. She is laughing hysterically.
Ned: �Oh, you think that this if funny?� just then, he succeeds. �Ha. See that? I won!� he smirks at her. �Which one do you want?�
Laughing, Alexis points at an ice blue teddy bear. Ned smiles.
Ned: (to the booth attendant) �My wife would like that ice blue bear over there, please.�
The attendant hands it to Ned and they walk away. Ned gives it to Alexis.
Alexis: �Thanks. I�ll treasure it forever.�
Ned: �You know what we need to do?�
Alexis: �I�m almost afraid to ask.�
Ned: �We need to get some cotton candy and ride the ferris wheel.�
Five minutes later, they are sitting in a car on the ferris wheel, headed for the top.
Alexis: (taking another piece of cotton candy) �This stuff is really good. What�s in it?�
Ned: �Sugar.�
Alexis: �And?�
Ned: �That�s about it.� He laughs and eats another piece of the pink fluff. �But it�s too good to analyze.�
Alexis: (looking up) �The stars are amazing from up here.�
Ned: (looking at her) �I can think of more amazing looking things.�
Alexis: �Ned, you flatter me too much.�
Ned: �I only speak the truth.� He gently kisses her. �You�re amazing.� He kisses her again. �And magnificent.� He kisses her again. �And captivating.� He kisses her again. �And stunning.� He kisses her again, this time longer. �Need I go on?�
Alexis: �I could say a few things about you, too.� Just then, they reach the very top and the ferris wheel stops. �Hey, what�s that?� she looks down. �Why did it stop?�
Ned: (trying to not smile) �I have no idea.�
Alexis: (looking closely at him) �If you have no idea, than why do you have that look on your face?�
Ned: �What look? I don�t have any look.�
Alexis: �Yes you do. You always get a look on your face when you�ve done something sneaky and underhanded.� She smiles. �I suppose that you�re responsible for this?�
Ned: �Okay, I am.� He smiles. �If you must know, I paid the attendant off to let me have ten minutes with you up here.�
Alexis: �I don�t mean to be stupid, but why?�
Ned: (taking her hands) �Because there�s something that I wanted to say to you up here in the moonlight.� He smiles at her. �Alexis, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought I could love a person. You mean everything to me.� He leans over and kisses her lips. �I just want you to know that you are my world. You are everything I�ve ever wanted, but never thought I could have.�
Alexis: �Oh Ned. I love you too.� She laughs under her breath. �And this is coming from the woman who vowed to never get married. I love you more than anything. I never thought I could love anyone, or trust anyone for that matter.� She looks deep into his eyes. �You�ve given me everything I�ve ever wanted. A best friend, children, a home. Ned, you�ve given me something to live for.�
Ned: (stroking her hair) �Lex, I know that you had a rotten life. And I want to make you forget all about it. I want to fill your life with love, and joy, and never let you go back to those memories. I never want to see that look of fear in your eyes again. The look that I saw when you found out that Stavros was alive. I never want you to hurt again.� His eyes fill with tears. �Alexis, I will go to my grave protecting you and our daughters. I would die for you.�
Alexis: (a tear falling down her face) �Ned, do you know how much I love you?�
Ned: (in a low voice) �How much?�
Alexis: �This much.� She leans forward and kisses him.
Ned is taken back slightly by the kiss. It is a more intense and powerful kiss than he and Alexis have ever exchanged.
Just then, the ferris wheel starts and they break apart. Alexis smiles. Ned smiles back.
Port Charles. General Hospital.
Monica is working late in her office when there is a knock at the door.
Monica: �Come in.� she smiles as Gregory walks through the door. �Definitely come in.�
Gregory: �What are you still doing here?�
Monica: �Working on a few schedules for surgery next week. You?�
Gregory: �I was just finishing up a deposition.�
Monica: (looking at her watch) �Wow, I had no idea that it was already ten! You�re quite a dedicated house council, aren�t you?�
Gregory: (coming over to her desk and kissing her lips) �I�ve missed you. What happened to lunch today?�
Monica: �I�m so sorry about that, but I had to go into emergency heart surgery.�
Gregory: (kissing her again) �And dinner last night?�
Monica: (rolling her eyes) �Alan insisted on taking me to dinner at the Grill.�
Gregory: �And judging from the look on your face, it wasn�t much fun?�
Monica: �He got the waiters to sing happy birthday to me.�
Gregory: �But it isn�t your birthday for like two months.�
Monica: �Enough said.�
Gregory: (pulling her out of the chair) �So, Dr. Quartermaine, how can I cheer you up?�
Monica: (coyly) �I don�t know, Mr. Fortino, but I�m sure you can think of something.�
Gregory gently pushes Monica to the floor and they begin to make love.
A few minutes later, the door of Monica�s office swings open and Emily steps in.
Emily: (seeing them) �Mom!�
Monica: (pulling away from Gregory) �Emily!�
Emily runs off down the hall. Monica stands up and begins rebuttoning her clothes.
Monica: �Greg, I�ll call you later.� She grabs her purse and leaves.
Emily is waiting for the elevator when Monica catches up to her.
Monica: �Emily, I can explain...�
Emily: (furious) �Save it. I can�t believe that you�re cheating on Dad!�
Monica: �Emily, let me explain.�
Emily: �Fine.�
They sit down on a bench next to the elevator.
Monica: �Em, I never meant to cheat on your father. But he�s been acting so manic and Gregory is just so... so...�
Emily: (slightly amused) �Dazzling? Young?�
Monica: �He�s not much younger than I am, Em. And, well, I guess that I fell in love with Gregory because he�s so smart and dedicated and sexy and...�
Emily: (cutting her off) �Wait a minute, what did you just say? You�re in love with him?�
Monica: (miserably) �I don�t know when it happened, but I�ve fallen in love with Gregory. I don�t know what to do. Every night, I have to go home and face your father, and pretend that I want him...�
Emily: �Does he know?�
Monica: �Dad? I don�t know. He may.�
Emily: �Do you know what I suggest? You should nose around a little, find out if he knows. Confuse him a little by pretending to want him even more.�
Monica: (surprised) �Emily, you aren�t mad?�
Emily: �I�m not mad. I am slightly surprised though. Gregory seems a little cocky.� She smiles slightly. �I can see why Dad would be driving you crazy though.�
Monica: �You seem so relaxed about this.�
Emily: �I could see it coming.�
Monica: (putting her arm around her daughter) �When did you turn into my equal instead of being my little girl anymore?�
Emily: �I grew up.�
Monica: �I can see that.�
Emily leans her head against Monica�s shoulder and they sit there in silence having a silent mother/daughter moment.